choosing a dog for show or shutzhund?

by sheri alchorn
(mississauga, ontario, canada)

When I go and look at the litter how will I know which to pick if I am interested in showing her?




Hi Sheri
This is where the breeder that you choose is all-important!

A reputable and responsible breeder will be able to tell you which pups have show potential in a litter, and obviously excellent pedigree/bloodlines/conformation etc. are vital. I would recommend that you do a lot of research before deciding on a pup/breeder.

It's important to know though, that even the best breeder can only tell if a pup has 'show potential' at 8 weeks or so, there are no guarantees. However a breeder who has an established and successful breeding program knows their dogs inside out and can usually be pretty accurate in their predictions.

If you're looking for a pup for conformation shows and Shutzhund, you will need to work extra hard in terms of research and make sure any litter you look at has a pedigree containing dogs who are successful in both areas.

I have a new Rottweiler Breeders Directory feature which is a 'work in progress' but you will find several excellent breeders are already listed. Although there are not yet any Canadian breeders, the ones listed are good example of the type of kennels you need to look at. You can find the directory here.... Rottweiler Breeders

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your puppy search :o)